About 75% – 95% of pregnant women end up developing stretch marks (a.k.a pregnancy marks or striae gradarum) on their bellies. As one of these expecting moms, even while your concerns mostly focus on keeping your baby safe and healthy inside your tummy, you still want to be seen as beautiful as you can be on the outside. Unfortunately, with stretch marks that seem to grow with the baby inside your belly, as well as other skin challenges that call your attention, it may not be easy to feel 100% positive throughout the day.

What are pregnancy marks?

These pregnancy marks become noticeable as the skin is stretched like when you build up body fat or as the baby inside your womb develops. They are actually scar formations that develop on the tissues supporting the skin and appears as a silvery white hue. They represent the small tears in the collagen as it starts to break off from the skin. They first appear as reddish or purple in color. They gradually fade to a pale or silvery white hue and the skin within the area is quite soft to touch. These pregnancy marks are not painful and usually fade after pregnancy. For some, however, it takes a long time for these marks to totally fade off. At times they seem to be impossible to erase.

What are the causes of these pregnancy marks?

There are other causes of stretch marks appearing on the skin other than the growing baby inside your belly. Lack of normal hydration can also cause stretch marks to be visible. This generally makes the skin dry and quite difficult to stretch. The expansion on the part of the belly and other parts of the body leaves these marks. For this reason, doctors and other health experts recommend that you hydrate regularly, especially during pregnancy. You might also need to use a belly cream for pregnancy and incorporate it into your belly skin care routine to maintain moisture and minimize the signs of pregnancy marks.

Another reason for concern is your diet. Note that the skin will regain and retain its elasticity when it receives the right nutrients it needs. If your body does not get the right amount of food it needs to supply both you and your baby’s nutritional needs, your skin will likewise suffer. The skin requires substances such as vitamins E, C, and A, fatty acids, zinc and selenium for your skin to reflect that youthful glow.

How intense can these marks get?

There are several factors that may affect the intensity of stretch that you may get. This phenomenon is dependent primarily on your genetic make-up. Normally, anyone who sees a closer family member having these pregnancy marks will also have a great probability of getting them.

It’s not all heredity, the intensity of the marks may also greatly depend on the weight you gain during pregnancy. Hence, a mom expecting multiple births at once will definitely see a more severe case of pregnancy marks, most notably on the belly.

How do you prevent these pregnancy marks?

As mentioned earlier, pregnancy marks may develop in other parts of the body, not just on your belly. You may see them on your hips, buttocks, thighs, and even on your breasts. As a majority of expecting moms experience these marks during pregnancy, it is a must that you know how to treat them.

The easiest way to deal with unsightly skin changes is to use a belly cream for pregnancy.However, not all pregnancy creams are created equal. Thus, you have to be very cautious when choosing the right cream, as well as other pregnancy products, that you may need to use. Parabens, Phthalates, Retinol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfates, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are just a few of the ingredients that you have to watch out for. It is best to choose organic when selecting what would be best to touch your skin.

As also mentioned already, maintaining a properly nourished and hydrated skin will lessen the probability of you having stretch marks. You need to be sensitive to the signals that your body gives. You will know when it is time to hydrate or fuel it with the right food if you would just listen to it closely.

Finally, take note of your belly skin care routine during pregnancy. If you think that your experiencing severe pregnancy marks, however, a visit to your health practitioner will be the best thing to do. As always, taking care of yourself and your baby even at the onset of pregnancy is a must to ensure that you will have a healthy pregnancy.